His voice cracked when asked to describe how it felt to score a Test century, an achievement he has strived for years in county and state cricket to reach, but was nearly snatched away from him when he spent 30 agonising minutes stuck on 96 looking as if he would get out at any moment to Graeme Swann.

“It was a nervous time. I got a score in the last the game [84] and thought that was my opportunity but I got to the 90s and the England boys kept saying ‘if you don’t get it now you may never.’ It was a fantastic moment to finally get it,” said Rogers. “After all this time, playing a lot of domestic cricket, I never thought I would get this opportunity.

"To get a hundred is something that you can only dream of and you just want to soak it up which is why I was like that. I can’t talk for the younger blokes but after all this time you just don’t think this kind of opportunity is going to come up. I wanted to believe I am good enough but have never known. To get a hundred, nobody can take that way from me. It is the best moment of my career.

“When the ball is harder it’s seaming and it’s swinging so you just have to ride your luck, and I had plenty of luck. On these wickets you can’t push out at the ball or you’ll nick it so the key is just to hold your shape as long as possible.”

Rogers became the second oldest Australian to score his maiden Test century but he owed it to the DRS, which saved him on 20. He was given out caught behind but had it overturned when Hot Spot proved the ball had flicked his pad. England then celebrated when Hawkeye showed the lbw as ‘umpire’s call’ but the verdict had to be ‘hitting’ to be given out. In October the laws change and the original ‘out’ decision will be upheld regardless of which mode of dismissal the DRS decides.

“It is the first time any of us have experienced an out review given out and then given not out,” said Stuart Broad. “None of the players knew of that rule to be honest. But the umpires were sharp on it. Even with the explanation it was confusing. But once given not out there was nowhere we could go. The ICC realise it is odd so they are changing it.”

England were accused of being surly and arrogant ahead of this match but even though they tried to put Rogers off his stride as he laboured on 96, there was genuine applause for a popular player when he reached three figures.

“It is tough for an Englishman when an Australian scores a century,” said Broad. “But he has played for a few counties and offered a lot to the English game.”